Welding-machine.



G. B. AUEL & J. A. BURNS.

WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

Patented M21112, 19.15.

1 1 SQ QSQO 2 SHEETSSHEET l.

fillll WITNESSES:

ATTO'RN O. B. AUEL & J. A. BURNS.

, WELDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

Patented Mar. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTRS mart an era rarnnr canton,

CARL B. A'UEL, OF WILIdNSBURG, AND JAMES A. BURNS, 0F PITTSBURGH,PENNSYL- .V.L1\TIA, ASSIGNORS T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURINGCOM- PARTY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WELDING-MACHINE.

Application filed May 22, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CARL B. AUEL and JAMEs A. Beans, citizens of theUnited States, and residents, respectively, of Wilkinsburg andPittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Welding-Machines, of. which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to welding machines, and it .has special referenceto devices of this character that are adapted to weld together thecomponent sections of corrugated tanks, plates and the like.

Qne object of our invention is to simplify the construction and mode ofoperation of such devices-as those above indicated and particularly toprovide a rugged and effective work-holding means whereby the adjacentcorrugated sections, that are to be welded, may be held rigidly inposition throughout their entire length.

Another object of our invention is to provide a considerable element ofadjustability in the work-holding means and to further provide meanswhereby the work to be welded may be readily released from thework-holding means by a slight effort on the part of the operator.

Accordin to our invention, we provide a device 0 the above-indicatedcharacter which embodies a heating device or torch which is adapted tobe moved longitudinally in operative relationship with the work to bewelded and a longitudinally disposedworkholding means which comprisesgrooved and, relatively adjustable members to receive the corrugatedsections, and cooperating movable clamping members which secure saidsections rigidly in position by means of a suitable linkage mechanism.

Means are further provided to support an auxiliary strip of metalbetween the adjacent edges of the corrugated sections in order that aslight excess of metal shall be provided, which, when fused, tends tothicken the metal sheet and materially strengthen it at the weldedportion. We do not wish to be limited in this respect, as the auxiliarystrip of metal may be omitted and the adjacent edges of the sections maybe turned up to form lips or flanges which are adapted to furnish theexcess material necessary to insure a strong and rigid seam orSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ma1n2, iota,

Serial No. 828,736.

7 joint. Adjustability is provided, both vertical and horizontal, forthe purpose of alining the adjacent edges of the sections to be weldedand for bringing said edges into intimate contact with the auxiliarystrip of metal which is inserted between them. Furthermore, apin-and-slot connection is provided at one end of the operating linkagemechanism, so that one end of the clamping members is withdrawn prior tothe other, whereby undue frictional resistance is obviated and the workmay be readily released.

Our invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a device constructed inaccordance with our invention, Fig; 2 is a view, partially in sideelevation and partially in vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a view,partially in end elevation and partially in vertical section, of thedevice shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of aportion of the work-holding means shown in the preceding figures.Referring to the drawings, the device shown comprises a bed or frame 1mounted on suitable standards 2, a driving motor 3, a lead screw 4operatively associated with said motor, a movable carriage 5, a heatingdevice or torch 6 suspended from said carriage, and a work-holding means7.

The lead screw 4 is supported at its ends by brackets 8 that are mountedupon the frame 1, said brackets serving also to support a guide rod 9for a purpose to be hereinafter set forth. The driving motor 3 ismounted at one end of the frame 1 and is operatively associated with thelead screw 4 by means of a worm 10 and a worm-wheel 11 in the usualmanner.

The movable carriage 5 is carried upon the guide rod 9 and the leadscrew t by means of supporting bearing members 12, 13 and 14, and athreaded member 15 which is adapted to circumferentially engage thethreaded lead screw 4 over a portion of its periphery in such mannerthat the carriage 5 is advanced longitudinally in accordance with theoperation of the driving motor 3.

The threaded member 15 is pivotally supported upon a lever 16 which hasa pivotal support between the upright members 17, and said threadedmember 15 is normally maintained in coiiperative engagement with purposeof maintaining the lever 16 in any desired position.

The heating device or torch 6 1s preferably of the well-knownoxyacetylene type, although any other suitable devlce foraccomplishingthe desired result may be employed. Inasmuch as the heating devlce 6pertains only indirectly to OUIdIlVQIltlOIl, in performing a necessaryfunction 111' the operation of the machine, we do not deem it necessaryto describe the same or its mode of operation.

The heating device 6 is secured to the lower end of a rod 25 that isadjustably fitted into. a sleeve 26, which, in turn, is suspended fromthe movable carriage 5 by means of a supporting bracket 27. The sleeve26 is pivotally associated with the supporting bracket 27 by means of apin 28, so that it may be swung on either side of its vertical position.The adjacent surfaces of the sleeve 26 and the supporting bracket 27 aremaintained in engagement by means of a spring 29 which surrounds the rod28 and is disposed between the bracket member 27 and a nut 30. In orderto accentuate the normal operating position ofthe heating device 6, theadjacent surfaces of'the sleeve 26 and the bracket member 27 arerespectively provided. with a projecting portion 31 and. a cotiperatingrecess 32.

The work-holding means7 comprises relatively adjustable work-receivingmembers 33 I and 34, cotiperating movable clamping members 35, and alinkage mechanism 36 for operatingthe same. The work-receiving members33 and 34 are grooved longitudinally in such manner as to receive thecorrugated sections 37 that are to be welded,

the contour of said grooves being suchas to conform to the shape of thecorrugated sections, so that said sections may be held rigidly inposition.

Pins 38 are provided in theinner surface of the work-receiving member 34and extend into suitable recesses 39 in the adjacent surface of thework-receivin member 33 in such manner that an auxiliary strip of metal40 may rest thereon between the adjacent edges 41 of the corrugatedsections 37 to be welded together.

In order to secure a proper relation between the adjacent edges 41 ofthe corrugated sections 37, a vertical adjustment of the work-receivingmember 33 is effected by "means of a hand wheel 42 which is secured toone end of a rod 43 having oppositely threaded portions 44 and 45, thelatter poradapted to be moved longitudinally in opposite directionswithin tapered recesses 48 which are provided in the opposite ends ofthe work-receiving member 33. It is thus evident that, bymoving the handwheel 42, the wedge-shaped or tapered blocks 47 are simultaneouslyoperated to eiiect such vertical adjustments of the member 33 that theadjacent edges 41- of the corrugated sections 37 may be brought intoproper relation. In order to bring the adjacent edges 41 into intimatecontact with the auxiliary strip of metal 40, a.horizontal adjustment ofthe work-receiving member 33 is accomplished by means of a hand wheel 50which is attached to one end of a rod 51, said rod being provided withbevel gear wheels 52 that mesh with. bevel gear wheels 52 the shafts ofwhich screw into projecting members 53 that are secured to thework-receiving member 33. Horizontal transverse movements of thereceiving member 33 may thus be obtained by means of the hand wheel 50,aswill be readily understood.

The clamping members 35 are'of wedge shape in cross section and areadapted to conform to the contour of the corrugated sections 37 in suchmanner-as to clamp said sections to the receiving members 33 and 34. Theclamping members 35 are longitudinally disposed and are supported attheir ends upon upright members 54. The 'upright members 54 areconnected to a suitable operating lever 55, through the linkagemechanism '36 in such manner that the clamping members 35 may be raisedout of, or lowered into, engagement with the cooperating receivingmembers 33 and 34. VVe do not consider it necessary to set forth indetail the specific structure of the linkage mechanism 36, inasmuch asvarious modifications may be efliected therein and any suit-' abledevice for accomplishing the same purpose may be emplo. ed. It should benoted, however, that the ower end of one of the upright members 54 isassociated with said linka e mechanism 36 by means of a pinand-s otconnection 57, so that, as the clamping members 35 are raised out ofengagement with the corrugated sections 37 by means of the lever 55, oneend of each of said clamping members is raised slightly in advance ofthe other end. Thus, undue frictional resistance is eliminated whichwould otherwise be encountered in case both ends of the clam ing members35 were raised simultaneous y.

Assuming the driving motor 3 and the menses heating device or torch 6 tobe performing their intended functions and that the various parts of theapparatus occupy the positions shown, the mode of operation of thedevice is as follows: Inasmuch as the threaded member 15 is incooperative engagement with the lead screw 4, it is evident that theheating device 6 is advanced longitudinally into cooperativerelationship with the work to be welded. As the heating device 6advances along the work, sufficient heat is applied thereto to melt downor fuse the excess material supplied by the auxiliarystrip of metal 40,and to securely Weld together the adjacent edges 41 of the sections37,'thus providing a particularly strong seam or joint. W hen theheating'device 6 has traversed the entire length of the corrugatedsheets 37, the operation of the machine may be stopped, care being takento swing the heating device 6 upwardly in one direction or the otherupon its pivotal support 28, in order to prevent further application ofheat to the clamping members 35 which other- I wise would be subjectedto an injurious temperature. In case it is desired to discontinue theoperation while the heating device 6 is in cooperative relationship withthe work, it is merely necessary to force the handle 22 of the lever 16downwardly, thereby raising-the threaded member 15 out of engagementwith the lead screw 4.. When this is done, the heating device 6 shouldbe removed from coiiperative relationship with the work, as hereinbeforeexplained, in order that holes shall not be burned therein by thecontinued application of heat. The operation may be resumed at any timeby lowering the threaded member 15 into operative engagement with thelead screw t and by moving the heating device 6 into its normal verticalposition.

In order to release the work from the work-holding means, the lever 55is forced upwardly, thereby causing the upright members 54; to be raisedand, hence, raising the clamping members 35 out of engagement with thecorrugated sheets 37. lit will be understood that, by reason of thepin-andslot connection 57, the right-hand end of each clamping member 35is raised last, so that the clamping members are withdrawn on aninclination to the horizontal and undue frictional resistance isavoided.

Such modifications and changes in the specific structural details and inthe an rangemcnt and location of parts as may be elfccted by thoseskilled. in the art without materially changing thmode of operation orthe result, are to be understood as included within the spirit and scopeof our invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a welding machine, the combina tion with .a heating device andmeans for moving said heating device in cotiperative relationshipwiththe work to bewelded, of work-holding means adapted to clamp the workthroughout its entire length and means for releasing one end of saidwork holding means prior to the other.

2. In a welding machine, the combination with aheating device and meansfor moving said device in cobperative relationship with the work to be.welded, of adjustable means for clamping said work rigidly in positionand a linkage mechanism for releasing one portion of said clamping meansprior to the other.

3. In a welding machine, the combination with a heating device and meansfor moving said device longitudinally in cooperative relationship withthe work to be welded, of a plurality of longitudinally disposedclamping members adapted to secure the work rigidly in position andmeans for obtaining vertical and horizontal relative adjustment betweenthe clamping members. 4. in a welding machine, the combination with aheating device and means for mov ing said device in cooperativerelationship with the work to be welded, of longitudinally groovedsupporting members extending substantially the length of the machine toreceive the work, and cotiperating clamping members movable in thedirectionv in which the said heating device is applied to the work andadapted to force the work into said grooved members throughout theirentire length.

5. in a welding machine, the combination with supporting means, amovable carriage associated therewith, a source of heat associated withsaid carriage in cooperative relationship with the work to be welded,and means for moving saidcarriage longitudinally at a uniform rate, ofwork-holding means for clamping the work throughout its entire lengthand means for releasing one end of said work-holding means prior to theother end.

6. In a welding machine, the combination with a heating device, andmeans for moving said device longitudinally in co'ciperativerelationship with the work to be welded, of adjustable means forclamping the work in position comprising a plurality of longitudinallydisposed and relatively movable clampmg members and means for releasingone end of the clamping means before the other.

7. in a machine for welding metal sheets, the combination with a heatingdevice, and means for moving said device in coiiperative relationshipwith said sheets, of longitudinally groovedsupporting means extendingsubstantially the length of the machine, and vertically movablemeans'cooperating withsaid supporting means for clamping said sheets inposition.

8. in a machine for welding metal sheets,

the combination with a heating device, and means for moving said devicelongitudinally along said sheets, of means for supporting said sheets,and longitudinally disposed means cooperating with said supporting meansfor clamping said sheets in position and means for releasing one end ofsaid clamping means prior to the other end thereof.

-9. In a machine for welding corrugated metal sheets, the combinationwith a heating device and means for moving said heating device incoiiperative relationship with the work to be welded, of grooved meansfor receiving said corrugated sheets, and movable wedge-shaped means tocooperate with said grooved means and to clamp said sheets in position.

10. In a machine for welding corrugated metal sheets, the combinationwith a heating device and means for moving said device in v cooperativerelationship with said sheets, of relatively adjustable grooved membersto receive said sheets, and movable wedge-shaped means to cooperate withsaid groovedmem bers and to hold said sheets rigidly in position.

11. In a machine for welding corrugated metal sheets, the combinationwith a heating device, and means for moving said device longitudinallyin cotiperative relationship with said sheets, of relatively adjustableand longitudinally disposed, grooved members adapted to receive saidcorrugated sheet, and longitudinally disposed wedge-shapedmemberssupported at the ends and adapted to be moved into cooperativeengagement with said sheets and to clamp said sheets to said groovedmembers.

12. In a machine for welding metal sheets the combination with a heatingdevice and means for moving said device at a uniform rate incotiperative relationship With-said sheets, of stationary longitudinallydisposed means for supporting said sheets, movable means supported atthe ends to cooperate therewith, and means for actuating said movablemeans to clamp said sheets in position.

13. In a machine for welding corrugated metal sheets, the combinationwith a heating device and means for moving said device in coiiperativerelationship with said sheets, of relatively adjustable andlongioperating movable members for clamping said sheets in position, andmechanical means for releasing one end of said sheets before the other.

14. In a machine for welding corrugated metal sheets, the combinationwith a heat-* ing device and means for moving said device longitudinallyin cooperative relationship with said sheets, of longitudinally disposedsupporting members for said sheets, means for-relatively adjusting saidmembers horizontally and vertically, longitudinally disposed movablemembers for clamping said sheets in position, and a mechanical linkagefor supporting the ends of said movable members and for operating saidmovable members.

15. In a machine for welding corrugated metal sheets, the combinationwith a heating device and means for moving said heat,- ing device incooperative relationship with said sheets, of means for severallysupporting the sheets to be welded, means for supporting a strip ofmetal between; the adjacent edges of said sheets, and adjusting meansfor alining the adjacent edges thereof and for bringing said edges intocontact with said strip of metal.

16. In a machine for welding metal sheets, the combination with aheating device and means for moving said device in cotiperativerelationship with the sheets to be Welded, of adjusting means foralining the adjacent edges of said sheets, and means for clamping saidsheets in position.

17. In a welding machine, the combination with a work-holding means, alead screw disposed above said work-holding means and adapted to beuniforml rotated,

and a heating device suspended rom said lead screw in coiiperativerelationship with said work, adjustable means for governing theassociation of said heating device with said lead screw,'and means forswinging said heating device from said work.

In testimony whereof, we have subscribed .our names this 17th day ofMay, 1911.

CARL B. AUEIJ. JAMES A. BURNS. Witnesses:

B. B. HINEs, M; C. Mnnz.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,130,239, grantedMarch 2,

1915, upon the application of Carl B. Auel, of Wilkinsburg, and James A.Burns,

of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for an improvement in Welding-Machines,errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction asfollows: Page 3, line 127, strike out the words vertically movable; samepage, line 128, after the word means insert the words and movable in thedirection in which the said heating device is applied to the work; page4, line 98, before the word adjustable insert the Word and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with these correc tions therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of March, A. D., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

